As I raised my 'partner' my PSG-1 sniper rifle to my shoulders,the crosshairs settled on the head of the target that stood before me. This is the first time I saw one of the 'biters' up close after seeing it in news reports since 3 days ago and that experience sent a chill down my spine. A moan came from the biter and in that moment,I came to a conclusion. 'The world as we know it has just ended and that from its ashes rose a new world where survival is the name of the game' Beside me,Miku was trembling in fear and I realised that she had came to the same conclusion as I did. I slowed my breathing,steadied my aim and as the now undead human took its first steps towards us,my fingered tightened on the trigger to take the shot...

Chapter 1: the days that gone by

It all began when I moved to Japan. I had no name and before that,I lived a life as a child mercenary,killing for money to survive. My life was filled with bloodshed and violence that I lost count of the men I had hunted down. I had a name but it was so long since I used it that I had long forgotten what it is,I hated myself for taking up the life of a merc and killing without mercy,and it seems the cost of it was my name. I decided to move to Japan,as I had accumulated enough money to last through several lives and I felt that I should bring a stop to whatever I was doing. I moved to Japan successfully as the Law Enforcement and Military had hired me before and moving there would make me more readily available for them to use,thus they made it easy for me. I decided to buy a house in Sapporo, Hokkaido and got a really nice house to live in near the suburbs of the city and that was when I met her.

"Konnichiwa my name is Hatsune Miku(初音ミク)nice to meet you new neighbour,I hope we can be friends." I looked up from my packing to the open door and saw the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my life smiling and introducing herself to me. I wondered how she knew I spoke only in English,since she used English to introduce herself. "What's your name?" the girl inquired. Since I had no name,I looked around,and saw a book about a Saint Louis. I wasn't a devout Catholic,but I kept ties to my religion,praying for forgiveness for what I have done,hoping one day I would be released from the guilt. As I saw the name,I replied,"My name is Louis,nice to meet you,I hope to be friends with you as well. Please look after me as I am inexperienced in Japanese and would need help." I bowed down after I introduce myself with the pseudonym. "Don't worry,I will make sure you feel welcomed here in Sapporo." She said with a smile that took my breath away.

Since that day,Miku would come to where I stayed to check up on me and sang the songs she wrote I loved listening to those songs and that these songs were all filled with emotions,making them really heartwarming. "I swear you are the best singer I ever heard." I would always comment after she sings. Her cheeks would always turn rosy after I make that compliment and she would retort with,"B-Baka! I-I am not even a professional singer! H-How can you say I am the b-best?" I would always reply,"Well your emotions are overflowing in your songs,they radiate out and touch your listeners. Other singers couldn't really do that,so in my opinion that makes you the best singer around." and usually after I said that,she would turn away,presumably hiding a blossoming of red on her face. That reaction always gives me a smile,as I felt that finally I have a blissful life which is worth living.

However,despite all that,my past as a mercenary haven't fully left me. I only got permission to be a Japanese citizen on the condition that I would use my skills to aid the law enforcement with dangerous criminals that would need eliminating. Of course those jobs were paid jobs,but since they gave me an easy citizenship,the pay was lesser than when I was a freelance mercenary. It was still quite profitable a job and for once I could convince myself that my hunts were beneficial to the society at large,sweeping out the human trash that threatens it. To handle the jobs,I got the permission to obtain more modern military weapons to update my armoury and I did so regularly. I probably had more firepower than the local law enforcement in my armoury,with all the new additions of machine guns,explosives and other varieties of small arms. I also used the money I had to frequently buy gifts for Miku. " Arigatou ne Louis-san." she would always have a delighted expression upon her face when I buy her gifts and it warms my heart. Not much have changed in my life,but Miku made it way better.

However,I have not told Miku about all that I was and all I still am. I am fearful that if she ever finds out she would despise me for the very acts I did. I do not intend to keep her in the dark forever,but I really don't know when would be a suitable time to tell her. I suppose when the time comes it will happen anyways,so I should just let time flow on its own.

I didn't know when I decided to go to school along with Miku,but it must have been when Miku graduated from middle school and was going to high school. "Sugoi ne! It will be so nice to have you go to school with me,after all,you are a familiar face. Make sure you brush up on your Japanese though,or it's gonna be tough for you Louis-kun. We learn English,but our main form of communication is still nihongo (日本語)." she now wore a playful expression. I realise she was teasing me and I played along,"Hai hai I understand you Miku-chan. Though I get the feeling you seem to be insulting me," before I could finish the sentence she cut me off,"B-Bala! Of course not, I am just looking out for you. Why do you think I am insulting you!?" of course,I expected that response,but I gave in and replied,"Ok,ok I get it,chill it will ya? I am just teasing you. You are such a jumpy girl." Miku looked fed up and I really felt sorry for doing that to her.

Now of course, Miku's teasing of me came true when I first stepped in class and I only knew how to communicate in English. The class didn't like that and insulted me by calling me "outsider" of course,I have to control my temper,or I would have taken the B&T MP9 I always carry in my bag and did terrible things. Apart from that, Japanese school life was excellent. I saw that the class didn't make an effort to include Miku and seemed to treat her as though she was non existent. When I made enquiries with the teachers,it seems it is because she excels at both singing and studies while in school. Girls were also jealous of her talent and her looks,while guys always went to her to confess and when rejected never talked to her again. Of course even after having to struggle through all that,Miku kept trying to remain on track,even though it would mean being lonely. Personally I was impressed with her daily struggles cause she is willing to make sacrifices in order to achieve the excellence she strives for.

Eventually,I saw more qualities in Miku that caught my attention and she was just so kind that I got infatuated to her. However, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this newfound happiness of mine is like a fragile piece of glass and that something would shatter it. Never did I expect it to come as soon as it did...